60-681: The United States Fencing Association ( USFA ) is the national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States. The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union . The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association in 1981, and is also known as USA Fencing . The USFA
120-680: A bronze medal in team épée. At the 2015 European Games in Baku , Azerbaijan , he won a silver medal in team épée . At the 2017 Summer Universiade in Tapei , Taiwan, Bida won gold medals in both individual épée and team épée . At the 2017 European Fencing Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia , in June, he won a gold medal in team épée. At the 2018 European Fencing Championships in Novi Sad , Serbia , in June, he won
180-559: A certain group, such as the Catholic or Jewish sports groups. General sports organizations and multi-sport events also exist for other groups such as the Invictus Games for military veterans. Professional sports leagues are usually the highest level of play in sport, specifically if they consist of the best players around the world in a certain sport. Because of this, they usually work with national or international federations, but there
240-499: A congress or general assembly of the international federation and is responsible for defining its sports policies. It consists of all of the national federations, each of which receives one vote. On the other hand, the executive branch, which is often referred to as the council or executive committee, consists of elected members by the legislative branch and is responsible for directing, managing, and representing their federation. Trusts are organizations or groups that have control over
300-771: A gold medal in team épée. At the 2018 World Fencing Championships in Wuxi , China, in July, Bida won a bronze medal in team épée . In March 2019 at the Buenos Aires Fencing World Cup in Argentina, Bida won the gold medal in individual épée. At the 2019 European Fencing Championships in Düsseldorf , Germany, in June, he won a gold medal in team épée. At the 2019 World Fencing Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in July, Bida won
360-529: A group of similar sport disciplines, such as aquatics or skiing ) and administers its sport at the highest level. These federations work to create a common set of rules, promote their sport, and organize international competitions. International sports federations represent their sport at the Olympic level where applicable. About 30 international sport federations are located in Switzerland , with about 20 or so in
420-400: A lawsuit was filed against USA Fencing, alleging that its officials knew that fencing coach Robert Piraino was engaging in sexually abusive behavior, but that the organization failed to act before the fencing coach then sexually abused a 13-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy. In a federal criminal action against him, Piraino pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In August 2023,
480-556: A men's épée team for the 2024 Olympics. Following a hearing, Curtis has been formally removed from the Pan-American Championships team pending potential further review after the tournament. He will not be eligible to fence at the 2023 Fencing World Championships in Milan, Italy." The statement effectively barred McDowald from competing at the 2023 World Fencing Championships. Sport governing body A sports governing body
540-499: A participant. While we await the conclusion of this protracted investigation, we will continue to put the safety of our athletes, coaches and staff above all else." During the Hadzic scandal, it was disclosed by the press in 2021 that USA Fencing had received a sexual assault complaint about Hadzic by a fellow USA Fencing fencer in 2013, but not acted on it. The lawyer for the complainant had written to former CEO Kris Ekeren in 2013: "How can
600-560: A particular sport, as evident in the example of the Northern Ireland Federation of Sub-Aqua Clubs . Multi-sport event organizers are responsible for the organization of an event that includes more than one sport. The best-known example is the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the organizer of the modern Olympic Games . General sports organizations are responsible for sports-related topics, usually for
660-561: A severe case of sinusitis when he was 12 years old that prevented him from getting in the pool. He took up épée instead, at 13 years of age—late, by Russian standards, as he was too old to begin in other sports. His first marriage ended in divorce in early June 2021. His wife Violetta also fences épée, and they met initially as kids at fencing training camps. At the time she mostly found him annoying, and she jokes now: "Some days, I remember how I hated him." They married in February 2023. She
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#1732851411914720-653: A team in the minor leagues . This enables them to shuffle players who are not doing well to the minor leagues, which will inspire them to contribute more to the team by playing better. A 2014 study by the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) criticized major international sports governing bodies including the International Olympic Committee and FIFA for not having sufficient provisions for human and labor rights. Sergey Bida Sergey Olegovich Bida (Russian: Сергей Олегович Бида , IPA: [sʲɪrˈɡʲej ˈbʲidə] ; born 13 February 1993; nicknamed Bidon)
780-532: A total of at least six sexual misconduct complaints, including rape, had been filed against Hadzic. USA Fencing stated in 2022: "We understand that many in the USA Fencing community will question Alen Hadzic’s inclusion on our 2022 Senior World Team, given that he is still under investigation by the U.S. Center for SafeSport — an independent body separate from USA Fencing. We had hoped for a swifter resolution to this investigation, which has now stretched on for more than
840-516: A type of national federation, as they are responsible for a country's participation in the Olympic Games and in the Paralympic Games respectively. However, a national governing body (NGB) can be different from a national federation due to government recognition requirements. Also, national governing bodies can be a supraorganization representing a range of unrelated organizations operating in
900-498: A year. We share in the frustration of fencers and fencing fans… SafeSport has the exclusive authority to adjudicate reports of alleged sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. As long as the outcome of this investigation remains unresolved, USA Fencing is obligated to allow Hadzic to compete internationally. But we have taken decisive action where we can. For the past year, we have implemented a safety plan designed to protect athletes, coaches and staff at all tournaments at which Hadzic has been
960-402: Is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sports governing bodies come in various forms and have a variety of regulatory functions, including disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport that they govern. Governing bodies have different scopes. They may cover a range of sport at an internationally acceptable level, such as
1020-649: Is a Russian left-handed épée fencer . He was ranked #1 in the world in 2019 and 2020. He is a three-time European épée team champion, and 2021 Olympic épée team silver medalist . He moved to the United States in June 2023, along with his wife, Olympic épée fencer Violetta Khrapina Bida . Bida is a member of USA Fencing . Bida studied Sports Studies at the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism in Moscow. Bida began fencing at 13 years of age, and his club before he left Russia
1080-521: Is his wife Olympic épée fencer Violetta Khrapina Bida . As to his coaching young boys and girls at his new club, he said: "At first, the children started off a little bit shy, but it's OK because I was also a little bit shy." The couple now lives in a one-bedroom apartment, as they await the birth of their first child, and teach children at the local fencing club. He and his wife join Konstantin Lokhanov as Olympic fencers who left Russia to go to
1140-717: Is located in the Museum of American Fencing in Shreveport, Louisiana . It was founded as the National Fencing Coaches Association Hall of Fame on February 15, 1963, and was previously located at Helms Sports Hall of Fame, founded in 1936 in Los Angeles, California. No one was inducted into the Fencing Hall of Fame during the years 1975–1994, due to physical moves and organizational changes, including its takeover by
1200-431: Is possible for a U-rated fencer to jump immediately to an A rating by finishing high enough in a significantly strong competition. A tournament must have a certain number of competitors, and those competitors must maintain a certain ratio of classifications, for the top fencers to be eligible for ratings. The United States Fencing Hall of Fame (or "U.S. Fencing Association Hall of Fame") is a hall of fame for fencers. It
1260-535: Is that they don’t choke on them." Soviet-Russian former four-time Olympic champion biathlete Alexander Tikhonov called the Bidas traitors to Russia. Yelena Välbe , the head of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation, said about the three fencers: "It's shameful to run ... We have to be patriots." Other Russian officials also pledged that there would be consequences. Pravda shed light on
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#17328514119141320-598: Is the daughter of Stanislav Pozdnyakov , the president of the Russian Olympic Committee , himself a former fencer and four-time Olympic gold medalist. Ukrainian saber fencer Darii Lukashenko and Lokhanov embraced and held the Ukrainian flag together to express their support for Ukrainians during the Russian invasion. Russian Olympic silver medalist Sergey Bida , who had also left Russia for the United States as he opposed
1380-494: Is usually a separation between the different federations. Most North American professional leagues usually do not have amateur divisions, as the amateur divisions are mostly run in separate leagues. Also, most professional leagues are related to other leagues, as players usually attempt to play in the league with the highest level of play. Because of this, promotion and relegation can occur; or, in league systems without promotion and relegation, clubs in professional leagues can have
1440-638: The Amateur Athletic Foundation . Through September 2021, US fencers had won 33 Olympic medals and 38 World Championships medals. Two-time Olympian Nzingha Prescod was elected as an athlete director on the USA Fencing Board of Directors beginning on January 1, 2021, as the top vote-getter in a vote by athletes who represented the U.S. at the Olympics or Paralympics, Pan American Games, or Senior World Championships. Prescod stated that in 2020
1500-541: The International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee , or only a single sport at a national level, such as the Rugby Football League . National bodies will largely have to be affiliated with international bodies for the same sport. The first international federations were formed at the end of the 19th century. Every sport has a different governing body that can define
1560-598: The Lausanne area, where the International Olympic Committee is located. International federations for sports that do not participate in the Olympic Games are managed by equivalent organizations to the International Olympic Committee , such as the SportAccord . International federations are typically organized with legislative and executive branches at the top. The legislative body is usually referred to as
1620-764: The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs "wanted list for escaping to USA." While Russia issued warrants for the couple's arrest, Pravda reported that it was unclear what Russian criminal code the Russian government had accused the Bidas of violating. At the same time, the Russian press wrote that the fencers faced up to 10 years in prison in Russia. Days later, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and USA Fencing both wrote letters in support of Bida, his wife, and Lokhanov being granted U.S. citizenship . USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland wrote as to
1680-485: The Russian special services to form an excellent team of fencers and ensure their participation in the competition in which the traitor Bida will participate." Russian State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov called the fencers "cowards, traitors, and defectors" and "political rags.' Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov said: "they were promised to be treated with some sweet cookies. The most important thing
1740-655: The World Fencing Federation (FIE) forced Team USA athletes competing at the South Korea Grand Prix to remove ribbons featuring the colors of the Ukrainian flag from their hands. Ukrainian Olympic champion Olha Kharlan fiercely protested FIE's decision. Ukrainian born-American fencing coach Yury Gelman said that the FIE was the most corrupt federation in the world. In 2023, USA Fencing granted Russians living in
1800-630: The 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. His mother is Yelena Grishina , a two-time finalist in Olympic foil, in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. His maternal uncle, Yevgeny Grishin , won Olympic water polo gold in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, and water polo bronze in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Bida was originally set to follow in his grandfather and uncle's footsteps in competitive water polo; however, he contracted
1860-548: The 2-digit year allows for more precise seeding of the fencers in a competition. A fencer with a rating of B23 will be seeded higher than one with a rating of B22 or B21. A B-rated fencer is always seeded above a C or lower rated fencer regardless of whether the B rating was earned before the C or lower ratings. That is, a B20 fencer is seeded higher than a D23 fencer. Fencers may increase their classification—from U to E, and then up to A—by placing in USFA-sanctioned tournaments. It
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1920-498: The International Fencing Federation (FIE) Extraordinary Congress. Athletes from those two countries had been suspended a year earlier after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine . Despite USA Fencing's advocacy, more than 60% of nations affiliated with the FIE voted to reinstate fencers and officials from Russia and Belarus and allow them to compete in international fencing competitions. USA Fencing stated that it
1980-490: The Russian Fencing Federation changed dramatically once Bida publicly denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and followed that up by winning a gold medal at the U.S. Summer National Championships. Embarrassed and angered, a few days later the Russian Fencing Federation fired the Bidas' former coach, the highly regarded Russian national épée team head coach Alexander Glazunov -- "due to the flight of his athletes to
2040-663: The Russian officials' reaction, writing: "It is difficult to overestimate the propaganda value of sports, but "defectors" influence public opinion no less." Bida is a member of USA Fencing . As of January 2024, he was among the few Russian athletes world-wide who had come out as staunchly against Russia’s invasion ; while other Russian athletes have spoken about their general desire for peace, most stopped short of criticizing Russia's war. In 2024, while being interviewed in California he said: “Here I feel more free. I breathe more free.” Bida's maternal grandmother, Valentina Rastvorova ,
2100-692: The Tokyo Olympics, Bida received the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" first class from the president of the Russian Federation . It was awarded to him by Russian President Vladimir Putin . In January 2023, he won the All-Russian competition in Moscow. Up until the time he left Russia, he was paid a salary for being a member of the Russian national fencing team. In May 2023 Bida left Russia and moved to
2160-466: The USFA those being U (the lowest rating), E, D, C, B, A (the highest rating). The letter rating is further modified by a 2-digit number representing the year (23 for the year, 2023) in which the fencer earned that letter rating. If the fencer does not re-earn or earn a higher letter rating within 4 years, the letter rating will drop to the next lower rating and the year resets to the year the drop occurred. Having
2220-728: The United States Fencing Association in 1981. It was incorporated in Colorado in 1993 in compliance with the Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. The organization opened its national office at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1982. The national office subsequently moved from the Olympic Training Center to downtown Colorado Springs in 2002. On March 10, 2023, USA Fencing announced it would vote against reinstating Russian and Belarusian athletes during
2280-665: The United States after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine . In 2023, USA Fencing granted Russians living in the United States the right to compete in American competitions as neutral athletes, if they sign a public declaration against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On the Fourth of July weekend, Bida won a gold medal in the team men’s épée competition at the United States Summer National Championships, in which 60 men's épée teams competed. The reaction of
2340-632: The United States the right to compete in American competitions, if they sign a declaration against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On the Fourth of July weekend in 2023, Russian Olympian Konstantin Lokhanov , who had moved to the United States as he opposed the war, won the gold medal in the individual men’s saber competition at the United States Summer National Championships, in which 155 competitors competed. Lokhanov had also been married to Russian Olympic gold medal-winning fencer Sofia Pozdniakova until they divorced because of political differences. Pozdniakova
2400-514: The United States to embark in a career there, joining the AFM (Academy of Fencing Masters) Coaching Team in northern California. He informed his Russian authorities including the management at his club Dynamo and the Russian Fencing Federation that he was ending his sports career in Russia, and their response was "okay, good luck." He is both coaching and competing in the United States, as
2460-408: The United States without the consent" of the Russian Fencing Federation. When asked about his firing, the coach said: "I don't know why I'm responsible. It’s better to ask the [Russian Fencing Federation]." The Sports Examiner commented: "This story is almost too strange to be true." On December 27, 2023, the Russian state-run newspaper Pravda reported that Bida and his wife had been put on
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2520-485: The [SafeSport] Code, or at a facility under the exclusive jurisdiction of the same." In December 2023, SafeSport’s decision to permanently ban Hadzic was upheld on appeal, ensuring that he will never again allowed to compete in U.S. fencing competitions. USA Fencing issued a statement saying that the decision: "should serve as a stern warning to everyone that conduct that is threatening, harmful or inappropriate toward anyone in our sport will not be tolerated." In August 2022,
2580-434: The [US Fencing Association], in good conscience, claim its hands are tied and permit the participation of a known rapist into its athletic midst?" However, Ekeren did not respond further to the lawyer, and the letters were not made public for eight years. In the wake of that disclosure, USA Fencing's Executive Director/CEO Kris Ekeren and General Counsel Jim Neale both resigned. In June 2023, due to his sexual misconduct Hadzic
2640-458: The allegations made by the three women against Hadzic "for years," but until the Olympics had never put a restriction in place for Hadzic while he competed all over the world with USA Fencing teams. Hadzic sought to overturn the restriction in arbitration, without success. He had previously been suspended by Columbia University for a year for sexual misconduct, as a result of the findings of a Title IX investigation of his behavior. By October 2021,
2700-632: The defecting fencers to obtain U.S. citizenship was made public, Sergey Malinkovich , the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communists of Russia party, crudely threatened the fencers by sending them a portrait of Leon Trotsky . Trotsky had also emigrated decades earlier, and was assassinated by a Soviet agent in Mexico in 1940. Malinkovich noted: "everyone knows how it ended." He added: "I also urge
2760-459: The extraordinary circumstance." Bida expressed surprise about getting the letters of support from the USOPC and USA Fencing for U.S. citizenship, saying: "This kind of letter, it’s impossible in Russia." Bida said he and his wife would be "honored" to become an American citizen, adding "We will feel happy and thankful to spend our lives here." Shortly after the support of the USOPC and USA Fencing for
2820-565: The fencers, in a January 4, 2024, letter: "Our intention in endorsing their cause is to enable them to proudly represent our remarkable nation in the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games and other forthcoming international competitions." Phil Andrews, the CEO of USA Fencing, wrote in a January 5, 2024, letter to the U.S. Congress : "All 3 of these individuals have made sacrifices at great personal cost, and put their lives at risk to be able to represent our nation, and we ask you to make every effort to support them in
2880-544: The individual silver medal in the épée tournament , losing only to Gergely Siklósi of Hungary. In 2019, Bida was given the title Honoured Master of Sport by the Russian Federation . He was named the 2019 Male Fencer of the Year by the Russian Federation. Bida was ranked # 1 in the world in men's épée in 2019 and 2020. At the January 2020 Fencing Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar , he was
2940-468: The invasion, won a gold medal in the team men’s épée competition National Championships, in which 60 men's épée teams competed. The USFA tracks ratings for its members. Ratings are a system of classification for USFA fencers; they are primarily used to seed tournaments, but are also considered to be (very) broad indicators of skill. When a fencer first joins the USFA, he or she will have a classification of "U", or "Unrated." There are six different ratings in
3000-470: The judge dismissed some of the claims against USA Fencing. In June 2023, USA Today reported that fencer Curtis McDowald through his misbehavior at the 2023 Pan American Fencing Championships may have severely damaged the opportunity of his entire Team USA men's épée squad to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics . USA Fencing released a statement saying: "We are disappointed by Curtis's actions and regret that they have harmed Team USA's chances of fielding
3060-469: The money that will be used to help someone else, such as the Youth Sport Trust . National governing bodies have the same objectives as those of an international federation, but within the scope of one country, or even part of a country, as the name implies. They support local clubs and are often responsible for national teams . National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees are both
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#17328514119143120-753: The organization's disciplinary decisions "reeked of lenience and favorability for the offender." In 2021, fencer Alen Hadzic was the subject of rape and other sexual misconduct allegations. The findings of an initial investigation of the accusations led to him being temporarily suspended. On appeal, an arbitrator reduced the temporary sanctions against him, and he was permitted to go to the Tokyo Olympics as an alternate, although he ended up not competing. At that point, his Team USA teammates expressed concerns for their safety and well-being in his presence. USA Fencing therefore prohibited him from staying at his teammates' hotel. Hadzic's lawyer said USA Fencing had known of
3180-826: The top seed and won the gold medal in individual épée defeating 2019 French team world champion Alexandre Bardenet 15-6 in the final, and that same month at the Heidenheim World Cup in Germany, he won a bronze medal in individual épée. At the February 2020 Vancouver World Cup in Canada, he won a silver medal in individual épée. In July 2021 at the Olympics in Tokyo, Bida won a silver medal in team épée , and came in fifth in individual épée (losing only to gold medal winner Romain Cannone of France). In recognition of his achievements at
3240-399: The way that the sport operates through its affiliated clubs and societies. This is because sports have different levels of difficulty and skill, so they can try to organize the people playing their sport by ability and by age. The different types of sport governing bodies are all shown below: International sports federations are non-governmental non-profit organizations for a given sport (or
3300-638: Was Dynamo Moscow . At the April 2012 Junior World Championship in Moscow, he won a bronze medal in individual épée. At the March 2013 Junior European Epee Championships in Torun , Poland, he won a silver medal in team épée. At the June 2013 European Under-23 Championships in Budapest, Hungary, he won bronze medals in individual épée and team épée. At the 2014 European Fencing Championships in Strasbourg , France, Bida won
3360-430: Was "disappointed, frustrated and disturbed — though not all that surprised — at the outcome of today’s vote" and that "today’s 'yes' vote by more than 80 delegates, while not a direct endorsement of Russia's war, does send a message to the world that a majority of the international fencing community is ready to look the other way and welcome back fencers funded by and supported by the Russian government." On March 17, 2023,
3420-421: Was a Soviet Ukrainian -born fencer who was the 1958 World Women's Foil individual champion, and won team gold and individual silver in women's foil in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. She later won team silver in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Bida's maternal grandfather, Boris Grishin , was a water polo player who won Olympic silver in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, and Olympic bronze in
3480-422: Was hired in 1983. The USFA is affiliated with the FIE , the international federation for fencing founded in Paris in 1913. The organization was founded on April 22, 1891, in New York City, initially as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA). Graeme Hammond was its first president, from 1891 to 1925. The AFLA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania in 1964, and changed its name to
3540-406: Was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania in 1964 and in Colorado in 1993, in compliance with the Olympic and Amateur Sports Act . It opened its national office at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado in August 1982. The national office moved from the Olympic Training Center to downtown Colorado Springs in 2002. The USFA's first full-time Executive Director
3600-415: Was permanently banned by SafeSport, which also imposed no-contact directives upon him. His ban prohibits him from participating "in any capacity, in any event, program, activity, or competition authorized by, organized by, or under the auspices of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the National Governing Bodies recognized by the USOPC, a Local Affiliated Organization as defined by
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